Executive Financial Plan Summary Essay

I want to take this opportunity to thank you for reaching out to me. One of the first steps towards financial clarity and meeting your financial goals is to reach out to specialists who can identify your needs and financial position. I am pleased to help you get started on your journey and look forward to seeing you meet your goals! Throughout this document, I will be using various numbers and concepts under the assumption that they represent your financial position. In truth, these numbers are meant to be fluid and may change with time depending on the course of events in your life. Reviewing the document carefully to understand the underlying concepts and financial patterns is necessary given that change is constant. Resources Available: The best place to start is by reviewing the attached cash flow summary. This is a tool which can help you both visualize and quantify your goals. Items that are included on the cash flow include investments you are making, debt payments, and unallocated cash flows as an example. Additionally, I have tracked the costs or savings associated with each of my recommendations in the cash flow summary as well. The summary should allow you to see an action plan for achieving your goals while keeping yourself within your budget. Issue 1: Emergency Funds While you have a good start on accumulating sufficient emergency reserves, your current amount would last 3.4 months without covering any additional out of pocket expenses for medical insurance in case of a job loss or medical expenses in case of an illness. Recommendation: Increase emergency reserves this year to at least 4 months of reserves which requires an additional $5,000 deposited this year. Move funds from the taxable money market to the Colorado municipal money market which has a better after tax return. Additionally, any tax refunds (estimated to be about $500 after changing withholdings) or â€Å"found money† should be dedicated to this goal, increasing it up to $33,000 over the next few years. Advantages: Increases your ability to handle any emergencies that come along. Using the municipal money market is more efficient with a better after tax return than your current money market. As long as one of you is working, this would cover six months of unemployment. Disadvantages: Funds invested in safe liquid assets earn less than those that have higher risk. Alternative: Use Roth IRA to begin accumulating more emergency reserves beyond the current $25,000 because you can withdraw your principle anytime without penalty and the funds are protected from creditors. In that case, we would not count earnings toward your emergency reserves but principle only. Issue 2: Paying off credit card debt as soon as possible. Paying off credit card debt starting now will free up money to accomplish other goals. Currently you are in a position where you can pay off debt immediately if you utilize current cash flows. This will save on interest payments and allow you to allocate cash flow to other goals. Recommendation: Pay off your $6,158 of credit card debt immediately using the re-allocable savings, tax withholding, and estate distribution. These additional cash flows of $20,300 should be more than enough to cover the credit card debt. Advantages: You will stop interest from accumulating on your credit cards, which frees up cash flow for other purposes in the future. Your $6,000 of per year expenses previously allocated to credit card debt is now freed up for other financial goals. With your credit card debt off of your credit report, your credit score will improve. With the increase in credit score, you may qualify for better debt financing rates in the future. An example of this would be if you refinance your home. Current lending rates (fixed) are lower than your current mortgage rate of 6.88%. Disadvantages: This is a significant upfront cost as far as cash flow is concerned. The additional resources could be used towards other goals in the short term. Depending on the actions you take, you may not have a need for more affordable lending rates. Issue 4: Homeowner’s Coverage Your current homeowner’s coverage is adequate from a baseline perspective, but I believe some minor improvements can be made to your coverage. With the cash flow we currently have available, minor tweaks can be made to your policy to ensure that you are covered under the most strenuous of circumstances and can have peace of mind regarding your home. Recommendation A: My first is that you increase your base coverage by $10,000; this will cover you for the full value of your home as you currently are covered for only 96% of its value. Advantages: The advantage of increasing your homeowner’s coverage on your dwelling from $310,000 to $320,000 is that you will receive the full replacement cost of your home in the event of a catastrophe. Increasing your homeowner’s coverage is also quite cheap; the additional cost is only $35 per year. Disadvantages: The additional homeowner’s coverage is cheap, but modest in its advantages. The $35 you are spending on these could easily go elsewhere. Recommendation B: My second recommendation is you take an inventory of your personal property. Advantages: A personal property inventory will ensure you know the value of your possessions in the event of a catastrophe. Appraisals of high-value items such as your jewelry, wedding ring, antiques, and guns will be beneficial not only for your personal property inventory but also for your personal benefit; you can have an appraisal on hand in case you want to sell something, for instance. Disadvantages: The personal property inventory will require regular appraisals if you are to keep up with maintaining it on a consistent basis. Appraisals for personal property are oftentimes costly. This is actually only a problem if you get a large number of items appraised. Recommendation C: My third recommendation is you add an inflation rider to  your policy. Advantages: The benefit of the inflation rider is that it increases your base policy by the amount needed to keep it on par with yearly inflation. It will automatically increase both coverage and the premium. It is also cheap at only $20 per year. Disadvantages: Similar to the increase in homeowners coverage, modest in its advantages. The $20 could go elsewhere. Issue 5: Automobile Coverage You have not had a review of your automobile coverage for four years. Looking at changes to your automobile policy can help us see areas where you are more at risk from financial loss. We currently see that improvement can be made to your base policy as well as how your deductible is structured. These issues and recommendations are ultimately to be addressed with your insurance agent; I am merely providing a perspective. Recommendation A: I recommend that you raise your current base policy to double its current amount. Along with this, you will also raise your uninsured motorist’s coverage to match the amounts of the base policy. Advantages: The primary benefit of raising the base policy to double its current amount is you concurrently raise your uninsured motorist’s coverage to match. Your current uninsured motorist’s coverage is lower than your base policy; raising the uninsured motorist’s coverage provides substantially more financial protection in the event of bodily injury or the potential loss of one of you as a breadwinner. Disadvantages: The cost of doubling your base policy is quite substantial compared to the alternatives. The total cost is of doubling the base policy is $120. Recommendation B: I recommend that you raise your comprehensive and uninsured motorist’s coverage deductibles from $500 to $1,000 each. Advantages: Raising your deductible’s from $500 to $1,000 each will provide you with $250 of cash flow yearly which can be used towards your other financial goals. These changes to your coverage are designed to maximize cash flow coming in while adapting to the financial needs that arise from certain risks. In sum total our recommendations result in positive cash flow for you while maximizing the benefit you gain from insurance claims. Disadvantage: In the event you do have to file an insurance claim, your insurance deductible for both comprehensive and uninsured motorists is going up to $1,000 from the previous $500. Alternatives: You could leave your base policy alone but double your uninsured motorist’s coverage by paying only $40 instead of $120. This will free up cash flow of $80 compared to my recommendation for meeting your other financial goals. Your total bodily injury and property damage will remain the same. The uninsured motorist’s coverage will double. This still gives you greater financial protection in the case of a loss of income compared to leaving uninsured motorist’s coverage alone. Issue 6: Umbrella Coverage You are not adequately protected from liability with your umbrella coverage. As an example, you have risks related to the ownership of your jet skis, snowmobiles, and horses. In the event you are sued for damage to either property or persons, you could be liable for anywhere between 5-15 times your annual income or even the sum total of your net worth. At your current level of coverage of $500,000, your financial security is at a high risk for being jeopardized in the event of a legal meltdown as well. Your current coverage premiums are above the average rates. None of the property previously mentioned is listed on your homeowner’s insurance policy either. Recommendations: Switch your umbrella policy from your current carrier to the same carrier as your homeowner’s policy. Under your new policy increase your total coverage from $500,000 to $1,500,000. Advantages: Combining these policies under one company will confer you a monetary benefit of $25 per year in savings. We have calculated your recommended coverage quote by multiplying your yearly gross wages of $150,000 by a multiple of 10. This multiple is considered because you are established with a home, cars, retirement, and educational needs. A young couple with few assets would use a multiple of 5 whereas a larger family with more assets might use a multiple of 15. Your situation calls for something in the middle. Your deductibles for the umbrella policy will integrate with the existing policy  limits. Disadvantages: The cost of the $1,500,000 is $200. This is $75 more than what you are paying with your previous policy. In the event you get rid of some higher risk items, such as your snowmobiles and jet skis, your coverage might need reevaluating as it would be too high relative to risk factors. You mentioned your personal items are low in value so retiring them soon would be an example of needing to discuss with your agent options regarding risk. Alternatives: Instead of raising your policy level to $1,500,000, raise it to $1,000,000 only. The primary benefit of this is the cost savings from a cash flow standpoint. You are already adding your snowmobile and fishing boat to your homeowner’s policy for $300 annually. While the additional cost savings is modest, it simply affords a little bit more cash to be used for your other financial goals. Issue: Disability Coverage You lack an adequate budgetary plan in the event either one of you becomes disabled. At your ages, you have roughly a 21% chance that either one of you will unemployed for longer than three months as a result of disability. The impact of a disability with either one of you would be disastrous to your financial goals. The most important goals that would be compromised include your retirement and saving for your son’s education. Buying a car for your son, jet skis, and traveling, these luxuries would have to be reconsidered and more likely would be impossible. As a result of your disability you would further have additional health insurance premiums to pay; other out of pocket costs related to your disability not currently included in your budget would be necessary to account for. Both of your long term disability plans factor in inflation. If Jim becomes disabled in the long term, a sharp drop in income occurs almost immediately and until retirement. If Anne becomes disabled, your income remains relatively the same until retirement. A question you should further consider is what happens at retirement? Your target income in retirement is $211,436. If Jim becomes disabled, your projected income in retirement is $83,285; this is 39% of your projected income. If Anne becomes disabled, your total income in retirement will be  around $97,000; this is 46% of your projected goal. Understanding the realities of a potential disability for either one of you and putting a plan in place is primary. Recommendation: 1) Purchase a $1,743 monthly benefit individual policy to age 67 with an inflation rider of 3% on Jim. Purchase a rider premium with this policy. The total premium cost will be $829. 2) Purchase an additional 10-year benefit with a 365-day elimination to supplement Nancy’s income. The total premium cost will be $433. 3) Add a rider premium to your mortgage.

Interview: Occupational Therapy and Child Essay

The current interview process is in regards to a child who is four years old and was diagnosed with autism when he was two years old. Children with autism often display deficits in language, social interaction, behaviors, and sensory and perceptual processing (Case-Smith &ump; O’Brien, 2010). Therefore, the purpose of the current interview is to investigate the child’s overall needs, strengths, and weaknesses in regards to the child’s specific condition to gain an in-depth understanding of the child. The goal of the interview is to collect thorough information about the child to allow the practitioner to gain an understanding of the child and parent’s needs for therapy. Furthermore, the interview facilitates rapport between the practitioner and the child and parent and expresses the practitioner’s desire to understand and empathize with the child. It is important to establish a relationship with the child and the parent to allow for an open discussion and a successful intervention. The practitioner should establish proper eye contact and engage with the child properly to gain the child’s trust during the interview process. Structure of interviewing The structure of the interview is made available so there are smooth transition within the interview. The questions are phrased in an open-ended form to promote more conversation with the client and allows the practitioner to gain more information about the client. The questions in the interview are directed to the parent due to the young age of the child and the child’s diagnosis of autism. Furthermore, according to Stone and Hogan (1993) â€Å"parents offer an unique perspective on the child’s behaviors, one that is acquired over time and across different contexts and input from parents provides an invaluable supplement to clinical observations.† The intake form is formatted in a style where the practitioner may easily ask the questions and transcribe the information from the client. The typical sections of the interview are the opening, body, and closure (Sommers-Flannagan,J. &ump; Sommers-Flannagan, R., 2003). The intake form contains information regarding demographics, medical history, treatment history, and developmental history in the opening section. In the body section of the interview, information about the occupational performance areas, performance skills, and performance patterns are addressed. Lastly, the interview concludes by requesting the personal goals and major concerns for the client and parent. Opening In the beginning of the session, the practitioner introduces oneself to the client by stating the practitioner’s name, qualification and role in the setting (Crepeau, Cohn, &ump; Schell, 2009). In the opening of the interview, the practitioner needs to inform the client of the purpose of the interview and the type of questions that are going to be asked (Crepeau et al., 2009) and discuss about confidentiality (Sommers-Flannagan, J. &ump; Sommers-Flannagan, R., 2003). Confidentiality is an integral aspect of the interview process and is important to the client and practitioner. Establishing confidentiality encourages the client to participate with a healthy attitude and lead to effective sessions in the future. According to Sommers-Flannagan, J. and Sommers-Flannagan, R. (2003), practitioners in the opening of the session have a duty to make a positive first impression or they will lose their client’s trust. Practitioners need to relay that they care about their clients both with verbal and non-verbal cues (Sommers-Flannagan, J. &ump; Sommers-Flannagan, R., 2003). In the current case, the practitioner seeks information about the client’s demographics, medical history, treatment history, and developmental history. Although the goal in the beginning is to create a warm setting (Sommers-Flannagan, J. &ump; Sommers-Flannagan, R., 2003), it is important to learn about the client’s background information. In order to develop a proper treatment plan for the future, it is essential to know about the client’s history. Demographics questions are posed to gain general information about the client’s age, contact information, and caretaker’s information. Questions regarding medical history are present to help provide information regarding any medical disability that may affect the client’s current condition. Treatment history questions provide how effective the previous interventions were for the client and a framework for future interventions. Information regarding the client’s developmental history are asked to understand the client’s milestones and areas that the child may display delays. These questions provide the practitioner with a thorough background about the client and enables the practitioner to formulate a direct and specific treatment plan for the client. Body The body of the interview incorporates the development and exploration phase, which is the time when the practitioner and the client collaborate together to develop the personal story (Crepeau, et al., 2009). Moreover, during this stage of the interview process, the practitioner asks questions that are related to the client’s occupation and the factors that may hinder or promote the client’s occupations. The questions in the current interview are formatted according to the Occupational Therapy Practice Framework (OTPF) (American Occupational Therapy Association, AOTA, 2008). Within the body of the interview, the following topics are addressed: areas of occupation, performance skills, and performance patterns. Areas of occupation According to AOTA (2008) the areas of occupation are: activities of daily living, instrumental activities of daily living, education, work, leisure, play, social participation, and rest and sleep. In the interview, the practitioner poses questions to investigate the child’s independence regarding activities of daily living, which are bathing, eating, dressing self, and grooming. It is important to know how independent the child is in these areas to have an understanding regarding the child’s personal needs. Children with autism often are capable of learning tasks such as self-care, but it is important to know the child’s level of functioning. Due to the client’s age and diagnosis, the client is reliant on the care taker or parent to assist with instrumental activities of daily living. Education and play are the child’s primary occupations, therefore, it is important to recognize the child’s needs and capabilities in these areas. The intake interview asks questions regarding the child’s experience in school to help describe the child’s learning abilities. Children with autism often have developmental delays which impact the child’s abilities to grasp or process information (Case-Smith &ump; O’Brien, 2010). The level of functioning vary for each child on the autism spectrum, therefore, it is essential to know the specific academic experience of the individual child. Moreover, children with autism exhibit disturbances in behavior which often impacts their progress in education (Case-Smith &ump; O’Brien, 2010), therefore it is imperative to inquire about the child’s behavior issues. It is difficult to work with individuals who display behavioral issues, and therefore, children who have autism may often be refused for services, such as education. Other difficulties children with autism often experience are with social interaction and appropriate play. Practitioners need to inquire about the child’s interaction with other individuals their age and family members (Stone &ump; Hogan, 1993). It is important to have an idea of how the child interacts, if any, and what specific activities are motivators. Children with autism may react to strange settings and activities negatively, therefore it is essential to seek information regarding tasks that may offset these behaviors. Furthermore Lord, Rutter, and Le Couteur (1997) states that it important to ask questions regarding social interaction and avoidance to differentiate between children diagnosed with fragile X from those who are diagnosed with autism. Performance Skills According to AOTA (2008), performance skills are part of the occupational therapy domain and include: sensory and perceptual skills, motor and praxis skills, emotional regulation skills, cognitive skills, and communication and social skills. These areas within the performance skills are integral information that are relevant in children diagnosed with autism. The child diagnosed with autism may display difficulties in these areas. In this section of the interview, the practitioner seeks information regarding the child’s communication skills. Children with autism may not have spoken language, but may exhibit various communicative skills with the parent. According to Lord et. al (1997), questions regarding communication, such as directing attention, expressing interest in others, social interaction and imitating responses should be asked because children with autism often display disturbances in these areas. Also these forms of questions help differentiate between a child who has intellectual disability and autism (Lord et al., 1997). Other questions directed to children with autism are in regards to sensory processing skills. Children who are diagnosed with autism often haven an aversion to sensory stimulations and may over or under react to sensory input such as touch, sound, taste, and sight. Children with autism may display difficulty processing sensory information (Zager, 2005). Since children with autism often display issues with sensory processing and over stimulation, it is important to identify what specific form of sensory difficulties the child experiences. Difficulties in these areas may also pose problems with child’s ability to regulate their emotions, which leads to disturbing behavioral problems. Therefore, questions regarding these issues are pertinent to identify in order to have a successful intervention. Another focus within the performance skills domain is motor skills. Children with autism have developmental delays (Stone and Hogan, 1993) and this results in the child’s difficulty with motor and motor planning skills. Children with autism often have difficulties with praxis and therefore are often unable to perform novel tasks. Questions directed towards investigation of child’s praxis is important to identify because this provides the practitioner with an understanding of what the child is capable of doing. Understanding the child’s capabilities will allow the practitioner to have a foundation to establish proper therapeutic interventions. Performance Pattern Within this domain of the occupational therapy practice framework (AOTA, 2008), the different areas include: routines, roles, and habits. This area is relevant to children with autism because of the child’s high tendency to engage in repetitive behaviors (Zager, 2005). Therefore, it is encouraged for practitioners to inquire about the child’s daily routines, habits, and roles. Some of the habits (or behaviors) children with autism exhibit are unhealthy and practitioners should seek information about the specific behaviors that are harmful to the child. Often, children with autism display tantrums due to change in routine. If the practitioner does not seek information regarding these types of behaviors, then it may halt progress in the intervention. Closing In the last section of the interview, the practitioner needs to transition smoothly to the end the session (Crepeau et al., 2009). It is important for the practitioner to identify the child and parent’s goals and clear up any questions the client may have regarding the interview and the future sessions. The practitioner and client collaborate together to establish goals that are of primary to the needs of the client. Practitioners need to clarify any questions the client may have and provide information about the future sessions.

Environmental Discourse Essay

Although environmental concerns have attained increasing currency within society, general coverage by the media fails to recognize that not all environmental discourses are alike. Different ideological strains exist and maintain different assumptions about not just the source of environmental problems, but the kinds of solutions that are necessary to solving environmental problems. In the latter half of the 20th century, when environmentalism arose as a distinct political and social ideology, the form of environmental discourse held by most of its proponents is what is now called deep green environmentalism. Deep green environmentalisms operate under the assumption that the dominant political and social ideologies such as unchecked growth, pervasive consumerism and extreme industrialism and capitalism are inherently flawed and contributive to ecological damage. They believe profound lifestyle changes and a willingness to confront dominant social institutions are needed to keep these problems in check. (Beder, 1991) By contrast, light green environmentalists are more common today: they have a casual concern regarding planetary welfare and do not view environmental protection as a distinct political ideology. They do not seek the political emasculation of industrialism and capitalism but instead emphasize environmentalism as a lifestyle alternative. They choose strategic consumption and a responsible modern living as the means to address environmental issues. As such, light green environmentalists make no pretense of possessing the same subversive aspirations of their dark or deep green counterparts. (Beder, 1991) Today, a new form of environmentalism has emerged: Bright green environmentalism. Bright green environmentalism holds that the guilt of modern living can be reconciled with environmental anxiety and sustainability is possible through tools and technology. The primary assumption is that it is difficult for individuals to go deep green and â€Å"turn their backs† on material luxury, and that the strategic consumption of light greens is ultimately trivial in relation to our ecological problems. To that end, bright green environmentalists embrace new forms of energy production, manufacturing, biotechnology, urban planning and other forms of sustainable design technologies as a means of retrofitting the present capitalist-industrialist mode of life rather than seeking to overthrow it. They celebrate the potential for economic abundance and material plenitude without compromising ecological sustainability. (Steffen, 2006) REFERENCES Beder, S. â€Å"Activism vs. Negotiation: Strategies for the Environment Movement. † Social Alternatives, Vol 10, No 4, pp. 53-56, December 1991. Retrieved on January 26, 2009 from: http://homepage. mac. com/herinst/sbeder/activism. html Steffen, A. (2006, May) â€Å"The Next Green Revolution. † Wired Magazine, 14. 05. Retrieved October 13, 2008 from: http://www. wired. com/wired/archive/14. 05/green. html

Burger King vs Mcdonalds Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Burger King vs Mcdonalds - Essay Example On the basis of making risky business decisions McDonalds stands the winner in the competition. This is because recently McDonalds introduced the concept of McCafe (www.mcdonalds.com, 2014). This concept was quite different from their previous business model of only offering burgers. On the other hand, Burger King continues to operate the way they used to. On the basis of creativity, again McDonalds can be categorized as the winner. This is because they come up with new and improved ideas such as the idea of McGriddle which ended up being quite successful. While burger King lacks innovation and copies the creations of McDonalds. The differentiation between the two burger giants exhibit that both the burger giants have something different to offer. Burger King offers better quality burgers which is the main aim of both the burger giants, but McDonalds offers something new and takes the real risk by coming out with innovative

Asset Classes Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Asset Classes - Essay Example Currently, Merrill Lynch handled investments in several asset class types. The company’s current fund holdings include Retail Holdrs Fund. The Fund’s trading symbol is ROHD. The fund falls under the Consumer Cyclical asset class category. Merrill Lynch also invests in Europe 2001 Holdrs Fund. The Fund’s trading symbol is EKH. The fund is categorized as a European Stock asset class. Another Merrill Lynch fund investment is the Telecom Holdrs Fund. The Fund’s trading symbol is TTH. The fund is categorized as Communications category asset class. Finally, the company entertains investment activities in the Software Holders Fund. The Fund’s trading symbol is SWH. The fund is placed under the Technology category asset class (biz.yahoo.com). Home Depot Inc. belongs to the Dow 30 companies. The company belongs to the stock investment asset class, a blue chip Class A asset class. People invest in the company’s stocks. In return, the investors hope to generate dividend income from their investments. If the company generates net profits, the investors will receive their expected dividends. On the other hand, if the company does not generate a net profit, the company will not be able to deliver the expected dividends to the eagerly waiting investors. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) shows the average price of the United States stock exchange’s 30 blue chip Class A stocks. Home Depot Inc. is one of the Dow’s 30 blue chip stocks (Fredman, 1998). The company’s stock market price on October 23, 2012 is pegged at $61.75 per share in the stock market. The price dropped by 0.47 percent compared to its prior trading day’s share price. The company’s 3rd quarter financial statements show that the company was able to favorably generated $0.70 earnings per share figure. This means that all stockholders of Home Depot Inc. are forecasted to receive $ 0.70 for every share that they invested in the company. A

Case study and Questions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Case study and Questions - Essay Example This is not environmentally sustainable as it contributes tremendously to global warming. For this reason, automobile companies have consistently tried to alter their respective products in order to accommodate emission abatement targets set by their governments. One uncertainty that pervaded automobile industry players is the availability of infrastructure required to make their technologies work. It is for this reason that ethanol vehicles, compressed natural gas fuels, hybrid electric vehicles, and hydrogen fuels cells have failed. Most of these companies entered the market with the hope of providing more sustainable alternatives. However, they did not live up to expectations because there were no dedicated networks of refueling stations, pipelines, storage and transmission of the fuel sources. Efficiency has also been a key uncertainty in personal transportation as consumers often expect value for money. Most of the conventional automobiles in the market did not use their value sources efficiently, so this caused wastage and required greater consumer expenditure in order to make up for the lost energy. Several companies have been trying to introduce new automobiles that would consume most of the fuel and whose lifecycle was not expensive. Ethanol vehicles failed at this attempt because agricultural expenditure and the overall cost of producing food crops were costlier than the savings garnered from the automobile technology. Similarly, this problem has plagued a number of sustainability-driven auto firms as critics claim that the efficiencies enjoyed by consumers were offset by large scale producers of electricity or any other green energy. Therefore, organisations have been striving to maintain a balance between energy efficiency and cost efficiency. Consumers require a vehicle that is practical, or one that can

Philosophy of Mass Communication Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Philosophy of Mass Communication - Essay Example Mass Communication is believed to be a task of delivering information, ideas and attitudes to a sizable and diversified audience via use of media developed for that purpose which seems much difficult than to communicate through face to face. The revenue of mass communication comes from the following sources. However people living in advanced nations are also interested to make charitable contributions to organizations such as Save the Children, UNCF and Autism Speaks that partially performing mass communication activities. The people nevertheless, have to make a rational decision in terms of paying for public donations such as mass media or charitable donations. The value of making a public donation needs to be kept in mind because it is largely responsible for keep the national systems running throughout the world. Mass media although seems simple but also has its own code of ethics and conduct, which the companies have to follow and the audience, will judge them as well. Donating to mass media appears reasonable as everyone nowadays is interested to believe in mass and social media. Charitable donations nonetheless have their own significance and importance and funding them is equally important regarding provision of support to media. As being a part of same country, every person has to perform its duties towards those who are being going through several downturns and problems of life. Therefore before donating, any person should consider his or her monthly income, his or her own personal expenses, and then should decide the level of donation he or she can make and should also perform a detailed research about legitimacy of the companies to which he or she is going to make a donation. The next step that is to be done is to see which organization requires the most and the donor has to donate ac cordingly and reasonably. The right of every organization needs to be considered in a local city at least. Roles of Railroads The railroads on the other hand, played an important role in the United States and It was an epic function at that time and therefore, it involved enterprises on a great scale that had quite a cash surplus too. Atlas shrugged has written â€Å"In a time between 1946-1957 in United States†. The novel was led by major characters like Dagny Taggart, James Taggart and John Galt. The basic theme of the novel was that US was experiencing a time where there was recession and facing a downward economic spiral in businesses (Notes 2013). Dagny at that time was the in charge of the Traggart Transcontinental Rail Road who was seeking to rebuild the crumbling track of Rio Norte Line. It also served for oil fields in the blooming industry of Colorado. Dagny throughout the novel shows her devotion to the railroads but faces several enemies who wanted to destroy her dreams. She has her first conflict between her brother regarding contracting with Rearden steel to build the railroads and then she had a fight with a manufacturer who was James’ old friend, She trusted Hayn Rearden more as she found her steel to be more reliable. The sensible decision needs to be made in a disturbed economic situation where Dagny faced the loss of her majority of skilled workforce. The case further worsens when the Traggart Transcontinental Railroad gets nationalized and Dagny experiences a main trauma. After seeking political aid a new law passes which takes the major competitor out of the business. Dagny however comes to know that there are certain people who want her out of the business world and she was facing huge losses. On the other hand, she starts working with Rearden in order to build the metal bridge but even then they face difficulties as the government considers Rearden’s metal to be not reliable and there again comes an end to Traggart T ranscontinental’s works and then they finally decide to invest in John Galt’s Line. After their successful attempt they find a

Corporate Finance Company Profile Ebay Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Corporate Finance Company Profile Ebay - Essay Example A significant boost is recorded in the year 2008 mainly due to the control on revenue expenditures and also on the fixed charges which are in the form of interest expense. The credit mainly goes to the management who has taken corrective measures like controlling fixed and operating expenses which have made a significant impression on eBay’s net income. The slight increment in cash and cash equivalent in the year 2008 with 20% as compared to the year 2007, may be a result of the fact that the company has invested in securities, paying-off liabilities, etc. It is quite obvious that management has been able to implement effective cash management techniques. The cash flow of eBay from 2006 to 2008 suggests that its operating activities are slightly high in the year 2008, amounting to $2,881,995m in comparison with the rest of the years, due to its massive business volume and operations; there has been an increase in the operating activities of the company. EBay’s management has, however, made huge investments in property plant and equipment, because of which its investing activities are higher in the year 2008, primarily, due to the principal loans receivable, in comparison with the years 2006 and 2007. eBay’s financing activities mainly consist of repurchases of common stock. The sole reason behind treasury stock is to regain the market position by increasing the value of its stock. eBay’s management has never paid cash dividends on their stocks and also there is no clear indication of it happening in the near future. And hence it is impossible to observe the dividend yield and dividend growth pattern of eBay (Annual Reports, 2008). Due to the expansion in the business company require some fixed asset for maximum use of the resources for uplifting the business operation and meets the customer demand so there is a slight variation in the year 2008 with respect to other years.

ASSESS THE CURRENT MOVE TOWARDS COMPETITION AND CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE Essay

ASSESS THE CURRENT MOVE TOWARDS COMPETITION AND CHOICE IN HEALTH CARE IN TERMS OF THE EFFICIENCY VS. EQUITY TRADEOFF - Essay Example It has been a key concern for policy makers to promote choice and competition, so as to increase productivity and responsiveness to consumers in healthcare. The western countries in Europe and the United States have embarked on renovating their healthcare services, to allow patient choice through availing price competition between the health care providers that customers can choose from. In the past, healthcare service had been a government dominated area, and in most developing countries it enjoyed a monopolistic position, with ability to provide a variety of services and capture the customer surplus in the market. However, today there are many private organizations that venture in the healthcare service as hospitals and pharmaceuticals, which are highly relying on modern technology to offer the customers quality service. As a result, this has made the cost, quality, and healthcare accessibility a legislative and policy issue that ought to be managed, due to the rising variation. Th e economic benefit of promoting competition and choice is to enhance competition pressure, so that private firms become more efficient, causing them to reduce costs of service and improve their services and products as a way of attracting clients, which is generally healthy and an improvement of the economy (Propper, 2010). New forms of health care financing and delivery have developed as a result of the competitive pressure for cost containment, to slow health care inflation and encourage clients to choose from the available relatively lower cost health care. Hospitals and physicians have been each forming mergers and joint ventures with their partners in the healthcare industry, hence influencing costs and bargaining power as they improve the quality of health care and its distribution to ensure equity in the society (Federal trade commission, 2004). Competition, Patient Choice, and Equity In health care, improving patient and user choices are perceived different in accomplishment of healthcare systems objectives. However, it has become a key concern for most nations so that they get to direct their future in health and public services in regard to patients wants. According to Fotaki, offering patient choice in England is viewed as an attempt to address the failure of the pre-existing policies that had been operational in providing equitable and high quality services to the population, while it is perceived as a way to achieve other desirable goals, for example reducing the waiting lists, hence not an explicit policy objective on its own merit (2007). There are numerous patient choice policies being developed in health care industries, but how efficient and effective they will be will depend on the adjustments they would have made from the past policies, and how attractive it would be to the customers in the already competitive market. The transition made so far is that the patient or user choice policies are been made based on the learned experiences in the previous policies. The health systems of most developing and developed countries are still been challenged in responding to the needs of the less privileged members of the society; therefore creating inequality when it comes to choice in healthcare and its delivery. Although the mergers and consolidation of health facilities and physicians have improved, it does not mean that the service being provided to some people, especially in the marginalized areas are similar to those being delivered in urban parts. The networks being formed have been effective to ensure equitable health outcomes, but the efficiency in health

Of all the data about global warming and climate change that you have Essay

Of all the data about global warming and climate change that you have encountered, what concerns you the most - Essay Example There is also the disappearance of coral reefs because of the increased temperatures and ocean acidification. Lastly, global warming cause migration and conflicts whereby people are displaced due to lack of water or severe flooding, later, this migration leads to conflicts and war over the scarce resources such as water. These effects of climate change and global warming worries I most since the planet will be in danger of natural disasters such as flooding, food shortages, coastal flooding storms and dry periods if global warming is not reduced. The other concern that I have concerning global warming and climate change is the various suggested ways that individuals and organizations can use to reduce global warming and climate change. These may include reducing carbon dioxide emissions from burning coal, oil, gasoline and other fossil fuels in power stations, people embracing reusable packages instead of disposable ones. Furthermore, individuals can embrace efficient use of energy by using methods such as defrosting fridges and freezers regularly. However, despite peoples’ knowledge of these and other means of reducing effects global warming and climate change, the phenomenon is worsening. In conclusion, am ever concerned as it appears as though global warming and climate change dilemma will only be tackled only after the world suffers its effect to a great

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination Essay Example for Free

Ethnic Groups and Discrimination Essay On May of 1607, the first English colony in the present-day United States was founded at Jamestown, Virginia (A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States of America, 2007). After many years, a Dutch ship arrived at the port of Jamestown and brought about twenty African slaves to the English colonists. Thus, the so-called African slave trade began. The African slaves came from the savannahs of central and southern Africa. The Dutch often called them â€Å"humanlike† monkeys, barbarians, and uncivilized brutes. Thus, the Dutch preferred locking them in the sub cabins of their caravels (A Brief History of Civil Rights in the United States of America, 2007). They were irregularly provided with food. Most of the times, they were held in chains (because the Dutch were afraid that they might cause some trouble in the ship). When they were brought to Jamestown, their condition worsened. They were forced to work in flat farmlands at least 15 hours a day. Large plantations of cotton and other agricultural products were assigned to them by the English colonists without pay. Although they were provided with housing, it was in shambles. The houses were designed in the form of â€Å"barnyard† to accommodate as many slaves as possible (a form of segregation). Added to that, this type of housing was a means for the English colonists to â€Å"distinguish† themselves from these â€Å"lofty and barbaric† human beings. The food provided by the English colonists was never adequate to balance the energy the slaves consumed in farm work. Added to that, the children of African slaves were also forced to work in the plantations. Their work varied, from weaving cotton to harvesting agricultural products. The landlords, insensitive to the contributions of these African slaves to their estates, usually utilized the â€Å"whip† against the African slaves as a form of disciplinary measure. Thus, not only the African slaves provided a cheap and efficient source of agricultural and household labor, they were also the source of prejudice, discrimination (described above), racism, and â€Å"embarrassment† to the English colonists. For example, the English colonists did not regard the African slaves as a separate race. The English colonists regarded them as â€Å"subhuman, but a little higher than primates. Even after the Declaration of Independence, the descendants of these slaves were not better of. Usually, the American landlords regarded them as personal properties. They had no civil or political rights. At times, American colonists in the West used them as soldiers (unpaid) in its wars with Indian tribes. Thus, it can be said that the history of African-Americans was a history of discrimination, oppression, and prejudice. They were the target as well as the source of racial cynicism of white Americans, British, and almost all Americans of European descent. The stigma attached to them by these cultural groups remained until (as one may notice) the present time. The labor market in the United States at the close of the 19th century was comprised of poor white farmers and African slaves-descent laborers (using the term Black is a form of discrimination in this case) (Bohmer, 2007). In 1876, an alliance between African slaves-descent laborers and poor whites was defeated by Southern landlords. The alliance was formed out of the perceived oppression of their class by the ruling Southern landlords. For example, their pay was inadequate to support their families. Nonetheless, their working conditions under these Southern planters were really â€Å"bad† in terms of long-working hours and high rents. Their defeat was magnified y the 1896 Supreme Court ruling that segregation was constitutional. Although their labor produced much of the wealth of the Southern planters, they were never given safety nets (such as social security) in the procurement of their labor in the market. In contradiction to the conception that African-Americans are never interested in environmental issues, here are some African-Americans who contributed much in protecting the environment. George Washington Carver can be regarded as one of America’s finest agricultural researchers. He was able to develop throughout his lifetime over 325 new products from peanuts and over 100 products from sweet potatoes. He often told his students that nature was his best teacher (A Selection of African-American Environmental Heroes, 2007). Vernon Jones is another African-American who led the struggle to preserve government-owned lands in a county in Georgia. In March 2000, he was able to pass a 125 million dollars bond referendum to acquire public lands for the construction of parks (A Selection of African-American Environmental Heroes, 2007). This is an indication that even if African-Americans are still discriminated, they would never be indifferent to issues that can affect the lives of people outside his ethnic group. Affirmative action can be defined as a set of state policies and objectives created to help eliminate past and present discrimination based on race, color, ethnicity, religion, and sex. The United States government under the terms of different presidents implemented a series of affirmative actions in order to eliminate forms of discrimination in the United States. For example, President Truman issued an order to the Bureau of Employment Security to implement nondiscriminatory labor policies (Sykes, 1995). Today, the Equal Employment Opportunities Act was passed to put an end to â€Å"discrimination† in the workplace, by giving minority groups opportunities to assert their employment status (Sykes, 1995). These series of affirmative action was the result of struggle of minority groups, especially African-Americans, to assert their rights as citizens of the United States. In the present, however, discrimination in the workplace against minority groups (e. . African-Americans) is never totally eradicated. Redlining, or more particularly service redlining, is the custom of refusing to provide goods and services to people of low-income and minority groups (Fuller, 1998). In the United States, African Americans, Latinos, and other minority groups are experiencing this form of segregation. Some â€Å"white† establishments typically create â€Å"excuses† for the purpose of not allowing minority groups (especially African-Americans) to procure goods and services. This was the most controversial issue in the 1950’s. There were different types of services: one for whites, and one for African-Americans. Although this system was abolished, many â€Å"white† retail stores in the United States still find â€Å"excuses† of not providing goods and services for minority groups. African-Americans today face what sociologists call double jeopardy. Because African-Americans are discriminated, they have difficulty of finding good jobs. It is estimated that a majority of African-Americans in the United States today are in the poverty threshold. They comprised also the majority in service sectors jobs. Their poverty reinforces their minority status. Thus, the so-called â€Å"ladder of discrimination† as what sociologists call is also reinforced. African-Americans have the difficulty of upgrading their status by economic means. Thus, white Americans always associate African-Americans with poverty. The institutionalization of discrimination was the most noted issue in African-American history. Before the handing down of the Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka (which abolished segregation in public schools) in May 1954, all public schools in the United States were segregated. African-Americans were provided separate public schools, usually close to their communities. Added to that, the formulation of educational curriculum of some states was also segregated. This was in line with the â€Å"early† belief of white Americans that higher forms of education were only a matter for white Americans. Segregation could also be noted in the construction of residential areas. Reverse discrimination can be defined as the negative effect of an affirmative action to some members of the dominant ethnic group which is seen as tantamount to another form of discrimination (Pincus, 2002:1). Often some white Americans complained that they were rejected in some jobs because of preferential treatment for African-Americans. They call it â€Å"reverse discrimination. † This is though not really a form of discrimination since it does not â€Å"question† the nature of the ethnic group to which one belongs. In the case of African-Americans, the opening of new opportunities is a means to upgrade their economic status. It cannot be a form of discrimination. Glass ceiling can be defined as the barriers or blocks that confront minority groups in reaching the upper ladder of corporate America (The Glass Ceiling for African, Hispanic (Latino), and Asian Americans, 2004). African-Americans today have little difficulty of reaching the upper ladder of society (noted personalities like Oprah, Morgan Freeman, and Janet Jackson serve our examples) although not as easy as that of white Americans. Personally, I identify myself to the cultural group I belong, although I recognize the commonalities between African-American and white cultures (especially those which relate to equality and freedom of the individual).

50 First Dates Essay Example for Free

50 First Dates Essay The movie 50 First Dates is a romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal. The movie is a notion of a day that keeps repeating itself. However, in this movie the recycling takes place entirely inside the mind of Lucy Whitmore played by Drew Barrymore. Barrymore plays a young woman who was in an accident that caused her to suffer from Goldfield Syndrome, a fictional form of anterograde amnesia in which each day’s events disappear from her memory overnight. This is caused by damage to the hippocampus, inside the temporal lobe, as the hippocampus controls memory functions. Furthermore,she also innocently believes every day to be the birthday of her father which happens to be the day of the accident. In order to shield her from the pain of repeatedly learning about the accident, Marlin and Lucy’s brother, re-enact the activities of Marlin’s birthday every day. The character Oola is a friend of Sandler, whom helps come up with clever ideas to help Lucy fall in love with Henry everyday. Oola is affecting his neurotransmitters by the daily use of marijuana. Marijuana works as an agonist, in this movie. Adam Sandler, a womanizing marine life veterinian whom cares for animals in an aquatic amusement park has too many sexual conquests until he realizes that he is falling in love with Lucy. Sandler, sheds his philandering ways and devises new ways to meet her again every day, hoping that one day she will retain her memories and feelings for him. He eventually convinces Marlin that hiding the truth from Lucy is worse than explaining it to her each day, so they begin to leave video tapes for her to watch each morning, explaining her situation and her relationship with Henry. Lucy also writes notes to herself in a diary. Over time, she begins to reciprocate Henry’s feelings, even accepting his marriage proposal. Lucy is surrounded by a great deal of support and love throughout her dilemma. Lucy also receives deception from her brother and father and the basically the whole town because they protect her from knowing the truth. Personal Reflection: The results of this movie provide evidence that people suffer with anterograde amnesia which can effectively evaluate aspects of their quality of life and that the quality of communication life style. This movie also provides evidence that people with Amnesia also refers to an inability to recall information that is stored in memory. The causes of amnesia may be organic or functional. Organic causes may include brain damage through injury, or the use of specific drugs but usually sedative drugs. Amnesia may be one of the symptoms of some degenerative brain diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease. Functional causes are psychological factors, such as defense mechanisms. People with amnesia also find it hard to imagine the future, because our constructions of future scenarios are closely linked to our recollections of past experiences. Researchers from Washington University in St. Louis used advanced brain imaging techniques to show that remembering the past and envisioning the future may go hand in hand with each process sparking strikingly similar patterns of activity within precisely the same broad network of brain regions. Fortunately, in the majority of cases amnesia resolves itself without treatment. However, if an underlying physical or mental disorder is present, it should be treated. Psychotherapy may sometimes be effective for some patients. Hypnosis can be an effective way of recalling memories that have been forgotten. Family support is crucial in helping a patient with amnesia get better. Psychologists and psychiatrists say that reality orientation aids may help to nudge patients back into their environment if they are surrounded with familiar objects, photographs, smells, and sounds. Personal Implications: In 50 First dates, it was designed to tell the story of Lucy a woman whom suffers from a severe memory loss and can not remembered anything that is happening but remembers the past. Goldfield’s syndrome is a fictive name for a specific form of Anterograde amnesia used in the romantic comedy. The condition causes Lucy to lose of all her memories of the day, save the memories prior to the accident, due to that she is unable to convert her short-term memories to her long-term memories during her sleep. This results in her waking up every day believing it is the day of the accident, October 13, 2002. So, while the name is fiction, it is based upon a real condition. The neurological condition that Lucy suffers from, Goldfield Syndrome, is entirely fictional. True anterograde amnesia affects either short-term memory, which can last minutes or seconds, or intermediate-term memory, which can last days or weeks. Although, falling asleep has nothing to do with the condition, and sleep actually intensifies many chemical effects which help memory.

The Barnum effect

The Barnum effect Abstract The Barnum effect is a theory that originated from psychologist Paul Meehl. The Barnum effect represents a type of subjective validation in which an individual finds personal meaning in a statement that could apply to many people (Cardwell, M. and Flanagan, C. 2012). In 1949, Forer went on to study this effect by giving his students an extract form an astrology column, finding that many students endorsed the extract and felt it was trailered to them. I therefore propose an experiment which will explore whether their are different responses in genders to a standardised personality description. The subjects participating are all college students currently studying history. The hypothesis therefore being, women will give a significantly higher accuracy rating than men on the standardised personality description. The null hypothesis is therefore, there will not be a significant difference between men and woman then asked to rate a standard personality description. The Mann-Whitney test will be used to help interpret the findings. Despite there being a minimal difference in the scores with females scoring higher than males, the experiment showed that the results where not significant thus the null hypothesis is supported. Introduction The Barnum effect is a theory that originated from psychologist Paul Meehl, in reference to to P. T. Barnum, an American showman with a reputation as a master manipulator. The Barnum effect represents a type of subjective validation in which a person finds personal meaning in a statement that could apply to many people (Cardwell, M. and Flanagan, C. 2012). If a subject is given statements that appear to have been specifically prepared for them, they often will validate its accuracy, thus giving validly to the means used to create the statement. In 1949 Bertram, R. Forer wanted to study this effect and devised a study using his students to give some incite into the appeal of pseudo-science. Students completed a personality test that he has simply copied out of a newspaper column, and that the results would produce a unique personality analysis. After this the students were asked to rate the analysis form 0 (poor) to 5 (excellent) in terms of how accurate they felt it reflected their own personality. Most of the students endorsed this statement with the average score being 4.26 (Cardwell, M. and Flanagan, C. 2012).This gives us an insight into the popularity of pseudo-science. Many people put great faith in horoscopes and personality tests the truth is that predictions like these only work because we like to hear information about our selves. Another study into gullibility carried out by N.D. Sunberg (1955) asked students to complete a standardised test used by psychologists to evaluate an individuals personality. They were then given results, either written by two experienced psychologists, or a false one. When asked which result was more accurate, 50% of participants identified the fake results as more accurate (Cline, A. 2014). This experiment identified the fallacy of personal validation, whereby an individual cannot be relied on to validate their own character or personality. The outcome of the Barnum effect can however be effected by variables such as education and gender. A study into pseudo-science and peoples beliefs was conducted by Keeports and Morier (1994). Their study looked at a group of students who were studying science and pseudo-science presenting them with a questionnaire at the beginning of the course about their beliefs. After the course the same questionnaire was given to the students and found a significant reduction in their belief of the paranormal. This shows how education can clearly have an impact on peoples belief in the paranormal. It has been generally accepted that there are no gender differences in the Barnum effect phenomenon. However, research carried out by Piper-Terry and Downey (1998) found that under certain conditions, gender could effect the results (Layne, C. 1998). They had their friends administer a personality test to psychology students then preceded to claim that they had interpreted their response based on what they were learning in class. The students rated the interpretations highly in line with the Barnum effect, however women rated these more accurately than men did. Piper-Terry and Downey concluded that woman gave higher accuracy ratings because they wanted to help out their friends whereas men where less inclined to help. Another interpretation could be that women are more open and therefore expect their friends interpretations to be more accurate. Furthermore, an argument can be made for women to be more susceptible of the Barnum effect. Studies have found 65% of church congregations in the UK are made up of women (Thackray, J. 2013). An argument that is used to explain this could be that women are seen to be more emotional, which could lead to greater spiritual openness, and a willingness to accept faith without the need of evidence. However, some simply state that because of the ageing population of the church the number of women in the congregation will increase simply because of their longer life spans. It is therefore the aim of this experiment to compare the susceptibility of men and woman. When asked by a neutral party to rate a standardised personalty description according to its accuracy. The hypothesis therefore being women will give a significantly higher accuracy rating than men on the standardised personality description The null hypothesis is therefore, there will not be a significant difference between men and woman then asked to rate a standard personality description. Method Design This experiment will be a laboratory experiment carried out in a class room with as much done as possible to help limit extraneous variables that may effect the result such as noise distractions or demand characteristics. The experiment will use an independent measure and involve a group of individuals that will conduct the experiment once. The independent variable will be the participants gender The dependant variable will be the participants response to the standardized personalty description. Participants The participants that will be used in this experiment will be students, currently studying history, aged between 19 and 31. The sample will consist of 12 females and 8 males and they will not be known the experamtor. Apparatus: 1 set of standardised instructions. 20 personalty assessment question sheets 20 standardised personalty descriptions. 1 classroom Procedure. The participants were first asked if they would consent to take part in an experiment. carried out by a fictional university into a new type of personality assessment that could give accurate information about an individuals personality. The participants then handed out a standardised questionnaire and instructed to answer each question on the paper. Once all the questionnaires were collected I told them I would return in one week with a personality description for each individual. On my return I handed out the standardised personality description informing them that it was personal and should not be shared with anyone else. I then asked them to rate the description out of 10 with 1 been not at all relevant and 10 been extremely relevant. Once these had been collected in I debriefed the participants and explained the deception. Results Descriptive Statistics Inferential Statistics Mann-Whitney U test: Discussion The results of the study showed through analysis that using the Mann-Whitney U test it was found that the null hypothesis is shown to be correct. The experimental hypothesis that females will give a significantly higher score than males to a standardised personality description is rejected. However, by looking at the mean results from the two groups we can see that females did give a marginally higher score on the personality description. Although the null hypothesis was supported the Barnum effect was clearly evident in this experiment. A large majority of the participants showed a score of 5 or higher with only one scoring below, as such we can say that the deception needed to conduct the experiment was a success. Moreover, among female participants two gave a score as high as 10 indicating how firmly they believed that the personality description had been trailered to them as individuals. This experiment therefore mirrors the results of the study carried out by Bertram, R. Foster, as the group of students he used also gave relatively high scores to a, after being told it was tailored to the individual. Furthermore, comparisons can be drawn from the experiment carried out by N.D. Sunberg (1995) in which standardised tests, real and fake, were used to evaluate personalities. Both experiments can reinforce the fallacy of personal validation, clearly showing that people cannot be trusted to validate their own personali ty. There are several reasons why the hypotheses was not significantly supported. One of these could have been that the participants used share many similarities, such as studying the same subject which could be an indicator of a certain personality type. Furthermore, the fact that they are students could indicate a certain level of intelligence. Both of these factors would make it hard to generalise the study to the rest of the population and as such lower the ecological validity of the experiment. This problem is shared by others who have been researching the subject including that of Piper-Terry and Downey (1994), who used psychology students for there experiments. One of the factors that could have affected the results is that their were more female than male participants. This could have effected the statistical conclusion that was drawn. The experiment was carried out under laboratory conditions in a college classroom which could have effected the outcome of the experiment. Although this setting allowed for many extraneous variables to be controlled, such as the tiredness of a student or their willingness to give the study their full attention could not be. Furthermore, the placement of the participants sitting around tables instead of individually could have allowed them to see each others question answers or personality description, possibly leading them to alter their answers. Both of these criticisms could lower the internal validity of the experiment. A major strength of this study is the standardised set of instructions that were given to each student. By doing this we can ensure that each of the participants fully understand what they are expected to do as well as leading to the ability to easy recreate the experiment. Furthermore, standardised instructions leads to all the participants being treated the same and so lowers the risk of experimenter effects. With regard to ethics, one of the main concerns was the creation a deception in order for the experiment to be effective. The British Psychology Society state in their guidelines that intentional deception should be avoided whenever possible (Hayes, N. 1993). As a deception was needed steps were taken to ensure participants were deceived as little as possible and that the true nature of the experiment was clearly communicated to them after it was complete . This was done by fully debriefing the participants after the study had been concluded. This involved fully informing them about the nature of the research and reassuring them about their performance within the study, as well as answering any questions that they might have about the experiment. (Lawton, J et al, 2011). Appendix 1: Personal statement While disciplined on the outside you tend to be slightly insecure at times and you have need for other people to like and admire you. You prefer a certain amount of change and variety however you become unhappy when you feel hemmed in by restrictions and limitations. Over the years you have learnt that us wise not to be to frank while revealing yourself to others and that it is best to hold onto your views until you feel that the time is right to express them. At times your outgoing, pleasant to talk to and sociable. However, there are time when when faced with a new situation that you feel slightly cautious and reserved. While some of your future plans may seem out of reach you nevertheless are willing to put in the work to try and make them a reality. Please score the accuracy of this personal statement 0 = very poor – 1 = extremely accurate Appendix 2: Questionnaire Instructions In the table below, for each statement 1-50 mark how much you agree with on the scale 1-10, where 1=disagree, 10 extremely accurate. References Cardwell, M. and Flanagan, C. (2012) Psychology AS: the complete companion: student book: for AQA A. 3rd edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Christopher Layne (1998) GENDER AND THE BARNUM EFFECT: A REINTERPRETATION OF PIPER-TERRY AND DOWNEYS RESULTS. Psychological Reports: Volume 83 Cline, A. (2014) Flaws in Reasoning and Arguments: Barnum Effect Gullibility Available at URL http://atheism.about.com/od/logicalflawsinreasoning/a/barnum.htm (Accessed on 09 December 2014) Hayes, N. (1993) A first course in psycholog. London: Harrap LAWTON, J., GROSS, R. and ROLLS, G. (2011) Psychology A2 for AQA (A). Abingdon: Hodder Education. Thackray, J. (2013) Why do more women flock to the Church? Available at URL http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/10035155/Why-do-more-women-flock-to-the-Church.html (Accessed on 10 December 2014)

Kurt Vonnegut’s Opinions Expressed in Player Piano, Cat’s Cradle, and

Kurt Vonnegut’s Opinions Expressed in Player Piano, Cat’s Cradle, and Slaughterhouse-Five Every so often, a person comes along and encompasses the meaning of a generation. This person will capture everything people want to say, and then word it so well that his or her name becomes legendary. The sixties was an era with many of these people, each with his or her own means of reaching the people. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., armed with a typewriter and a motive, was amongst those that defined the sixties. Like other notable figures of the sixties, his strong opinions moved the people. Vonnegut’s opinions cover a wide range of topics and address almost all aspects of society. He represented the flower children of the sixties, as he protested the Vietnam War. After his horror of World War II, it is not surprising that Vonnegut opposed war. He also had a unique philosophy about religion, as well. To him, religion is a term with a much broader implication than just the establishment of the church. Vonnegut also compares himself to dictators, as a servant of the people . Opinions such as these are not only found in the many revealing interviews, such as his interview with Playboy magazine. Kurt Vonnegut goes above and beyond many other writers, as he voices his opinions in the actual text of his novels, such as Player Piano, Cat’s Cradle, and Slaughterhouse-Five. Kurt Vonnegut’s history has shaped him into the modern day writer that he is now. Kurt, Jr. was born to Kurt, Sr. and Edith Vonnegut on November 11, 1922. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, Kurt was the youngest child who was always fighting for attention. Being a youngest child was how he developed his rich and intelligent sense of humor (Ethridge 1-4: 970). ... ...at http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/slaughter/. 2 Dec. 2001. McLaughlin, Frank. â€Å"An Interview with Kurt Vonnegut.† Media and Methods May 1973: 38-41, 45-46. Merrill, Robert. â€Å"Kurt Vonnegut as a German American.† The Vonnegut Chronicles. Westport: Greenwood, 1996. 73-83. Schalt, Stanley. Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Boston: Twayne, 1976. Shenker, Israel. â€Å"Kurt Vonnegut, Jr. Lights Comic Paths of Despair.† New York Times 21 Mar. 1969, sec 1, 41. Standlish, David. â€Å"Playboy Interview.† Playboy July 1973: 57-60, 62, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 214, 216. Vonnegut, Kurt. Player Piano. New York: Avon, 1968. Vonnegut, Kurt. Slaughterhouse-Five or the Children’s Crusade. New York: Dell, 1969. Ward, Selena. â€Å"Sparknotes for Cat’s Cradle for Kurt Vonnegut.† Sparknotes. Online. Internet. Available at http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/catscradle/. 2 Dec 2001.

Weber Essay -- essays research papers

Max Weber was the first to observe and write on bureaucracies which developed in Germany during the 19th century. He considered them to be efficient, rational and honest, a big improvement over the haphazard administration that they replaced. The German government was better developed than that in the United States and Britain and was nearly equal to that of France. Weber saw that modern officialdom functioned according to six principles: (1) Fixed and official jurisdictional areas which are ordered by rules, that is laws and administrative regulations. (2) Hierarchy and levels of graded authority where the lower offices are supervised by the higher ones. (3) Management is based on official documents (the files). (4) The officials have thorough and expert training. (5) It requires the full time work of the official. (6) Management follows rules. While these principles seem obvious today, German government agencies were pioneering modern administration to replace practices dating back to the Middle Ages owing loyalty to the king, dukes and the church. From the perspective of the official, Weber observed that office holding is a "vocation," that is it is a calling requiring a prescribed course of training for a long period of time and having examinations which are a prerequisite for employment. He is to be loyal to the office he holds, not to a patron. By virtue of his position, the official enjoys high social esteem. (Weber notes that this is especially weak in th...

College Admissions Essay: An Meaningful Activity :: College Admissions Essays

  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When the horsehair is one millimeter over the A string is when I wonder if my cue has been strong enough. It is too late, however, to turn back. I have started the quartet, and with the ictus of my violin's scroll, the sound is released. The first seconds of connection between horsehair and metal string are the most important. I concentrate on controlling my right index finger as every inconsistency in the fluidity of my hand magnifies itself in my ears. Under my chin the wood begins the vibration that lets me know I am connected to the sound. Only I can hear the secret nervous bounce of my bow as I speed up my right forearm and the impurities in my contact with the string that are masked by the distance between my first violin chair and the first row of audience. The imperfection is what I love. Only one note has passed, but as I relax my shoulder for the reversal of my bow, I strive to make the next one more beautiful. There is a never-ending series of notes. At the conclusion of this phrase, the downbeat brings the capital letter of a new sentence. At the end of this movement, there is another.

Food Label Report Essay

Eating and food are part of the way human beings live. Besides being an important source of nutrients, food is also essential for good emotional, physical and social well being of human beings. The main concern for AGHE (Australian Guide to Healthy Living) is physical health. Its main aim is to offer information on all types of foods that can be included daily in ones diet. This report was carried out to evaluate food labels on five products represented by AGHE. This report details the findings as follows. 1. Jewel Whole Grain Bread (500g) Food nutrients The food label indicates that this type of bread should be served as a single size. Each serving constitutes a total of eighty calories, and 10 calories from fat. Total fat in a serving is 1 gram. This is unsaturated fat since the food lacks Trans fat, polyunsaturated fats and monounsaturated fats. The daily value of the fats required is 2% of one gram. The next item found in jewel bread is Sodium which constitutes 130 grams . The daily value of sodium is 5%. This is followed by Total carbohydrates which is 14 grams and has a daily value of 5percent. Dietary fiber constitutes 1 percent and has a daily intake of 4 % where as sugars constitute 2% . The last nutrient on this food label is protein and is valued at 3grams. The daily intake of protein is 6 %( Michael). The estimated percentage of calories in jewel bread is seventy percent from carbohydrates, fifteen percent from proteins and point two percent from fats (Michael). The calorie estimates on this bread are intended for a person weighing 1451b. According to AGHA a sample serves of bread is two slices of bread for persons aged four years and above is three to four serves each day. The recommended serves for adults is seven serves. Where as the AGHE Recommends two slices of bread per serving, Jewel breads recommends one slice of bread. Core food groups Jewel whole grain bread belongs in group one foods which comprises of breads, cereal, rice, pasta and Noodles (AGHA). According to the recommended sample size for bread is between seven to eleven serves for adolescent boys and between four to seven serves for adolescent girls. Women aged between 19 and 60 years are supposed to have between four to nine serves per day. Percentage macronutrients in Jewel bread According to the label on this food, 500g 14g carbohydrates in 500g is equivalent to 28g carbohydrates in 100g bread 28g/100 ? 100= 28% carbohydrates 3 grams of protein in 500g is equivalent to 0. 6g in 100g of bread 0. 6/100 ? 100 = 0. 6% proteins The recommended daily value of carbohydrates is 2% where as the recommended protein value in 100g bread is 6%. From the above findings the bread does not conform to the recommended dietary intake. Major nutrients The major nutrients in Jewel whole white bread is carbohydrate and protein. The main purpose of carbohydrates is to provide energy fro the body. However carbohydrates do not constitute essential nutrients because energy can still be synthesized from proteins and fats. If taken in excess carbohydrates can lead to obesity and increased prevalence of heart diseases. The second major nutrient in bread is protein(Pharmacy Inc). The main functions of proteins include body building and repair of warn out tissues, energy giving during starvation. Taking excessive proteins leads to kidney failure and proteinuria. 2. Jewel California Blend Frozen vegetables (250 g) Food nutrients The nutrient facts on Jewel frozen vegetable food label indicates that the serving sample is two thirds of a cup. The calories in this vegetable are 25. Sodium constitutes 30 mg and the daily value of sodium is 1%, total carbohydrates is 4g with a daily percentage value of 1%,diatary fiber and sugars constitutes 2% each with a daily value requirement of 8% dietary fiber. The protein present in this vegetable is 1g and a daily value of 2%. The vegetables also comprises of vitamins A and C with a daily value of 10% and 35% respectively and lastly calcium with a daily value of 2%. The estimated calories are 64. 0% from carbohydrates, 16. 0% from proteins and 0. 0 percent from fats. The food label on this food is in accordance with the AGHE. According to AGHE the recommended sample serve for vegetables is a half a cup or 75 grams of cooked vegetables. Jewel California frozen vegetable should be kept under refrigeration. Jewel California Frozen vegetable do not comply with the AGHE, Because AGHE recommends that foods in this group should have much of vitamin, followed by minerals, as well as dietary fiber and finally carbohydrates. According to the food label the vegetables have high carbohydrate content as opposed to minerals and vitamins. Core food groups Jewel California frozen vegetables belongs in group two foods which is made up of vegetables and legumes. Persons aged over four years should have two to nine sample serves on daily basis. The sample size for adults aged 19-60 years is five samples serves (AGHE p21). Percentage macronutrients in Jewel California Frozen Vegetables 250g of frozen vegetables 0. 3 g of sodium in 250g hence 0. 0012g will be in 100g % sodium is 0. 125 Vitamin C is 35% The food conforms to the daily dietary intake recommendations. Major nutrients The main nutrients in this group are vitamins and minerals. Vitamins are very important in a human body because they protect the body against illnesses. For instance vitamin A enhances growth of bones, mucous membrane hair and eyes; Vitamin D promotes tooth and bone development; vitamin E is responsible for protection of fat tissue from oxidation as well as red corpuscles synthesis, enhances cardiac blood flow, reduces cholesterol level in the blood including fatty tissues;. Minerals on the other hand are also essential in human body. For instance calcium is important in teeth and bone formation; iron is important in blood synthesis; Iodine prevents goiter via promoting growth of thyroid gland; copper enhances absorption of iron; Zinc enhances vitamin B absorption and reduces cholesterol deposition (Pharmics INC). 3. Fresh lemon 25g Food nutrients Nutritional facts on the food label on a lemon indicated that one seedless fruit weighing 108g should constitute one serving. Each serving should have 22 calories 3 of which are from fats. The lemon constituted three milligrams of sodium, 1 gram of protein and total carbohydrates constituted 12 grams five of which are from fibers. % daily values with respect to a calorie diet of 2000 are vitamin A, 1%, Calcium 7%, Thiamin 4%, Niacin 1%, Vitamin B6 6%, phosphorus 2%, Zinc 1%, Vitamin C 139%, Iron 4%, Riboflavin 3%, Pantothetic Acid 3%, Potassium 4%, Magnesium 3% and Copper 14 %( Peer trainer). AGHE recommends that one sample serve of fruits is one sizeable fruit. Core food groups According to AGHE, Fresh lemon belongs in the third food group which comprises of all kinds of fruits including apples, oranges, pears and bananas. Adults are advised to eat at least one to five sample of a fruit on a daily basis. This food label meets the AGHE standards. Percentage macronutrients 1g of protein is equivalent to 17 kJ where as I g of carbohydrates is equivalent 17 kJ (Soccer performance). 1 calorie is equivalent to 4. 184 kJ. Therefore, 22 calories ? 4. 184 is equivalent to 92. 048 kJ of energy (Weight loss program). 1 g of protein ? 17Kj = (17/92. 048) ? 100 = 18. 47 % energy 12g of carbohydrates ? 17Kj = (204/ 92. 048) ? 100 = 97. 6% energy Major nutrients The main nutrients found in fruits are vitamin C, folate, natural sugars as well as fibers. Vitamin C is critical in collagen formation where as natural sugars fiber on the other hand adds bulk to a diet. Fiber aids in digestion, prevents constipation, aids in treatment of diabetes, heart diseases and diverticulitis. Too much fiber in the diet is harmful especially when eaten within a short time can result to abdominal cramps, flatulence and bloating (New York Times 2010). 4. Wild harvest organic yogurt(450g) Food nutrients The food label on wild harvest organic yogurt indicated that one serving constitutes one cup of yogurt. The total calories in this type of yogurt are 190, total fat constitutes 3g where as saturated fat is 2g. Other nutrients include sodium which is 130g, sugars 31g protein 8g and total carbohydrates 35g. The yogurt lacks vitamins (Michaels). The yoghurt is to be kept under refrigeration. This label correlates with the AGHE measures which states that a sample serve is equivalent to 200g yoghurt which is equivalent to one carton. Core food groups According to AGHE yoghurt belongs in the fourth food group together with cheese and milk. A sample serve for yoghurt is 200g . Adults are supposed to have at least two sample serves of yogurt on daily basis. Percentage macronutrients Total grams 450 3g of fat /450 = 0. 007? 100 =7% fat 8g of protein /450 ? 100 = 1. 78% protein 35g of carbohydrates/450 = 7. 78% carbohydrates This food label conforms to the AGHE. This is because the main food nutrient found in yoghurt is fat and as it can be noted from the calculations, fat is has the highest percentage. Major nutrients The main nutrients found in this group include calcium and fats. Calcium is important in bone and teeth formation. Fat is important because it provides more than 80% of the bodies energy requirement, it protects essential organs of the boy as well as acting as a thermal insulator this is because it is a bad conductor of heat.. Fat is used in transportation of fat- soluble vitamins and finally it is a hunger suppressor. Fat provides an important part of skin which holds the skin together. Fat is essential in the activation of the flow of bile, hence gall bladder emptying, it important in the formation of the structure of brain as well as production of hormones to initiate and regulate body activities (Weight loss program). 5. Ball park fat free beef franks(100g) Food nutrients The food label indicated on this food showed that the food should be served as one frank (50. 0grams) per serving. (Soccer performance . org)The total calories present in the food were 45. The food constitutes of 10mg of cholesterol, 420 mg of sodium, 5. 0 g of total carbohydrates, 2g of sugars, 6% of Vitamin C, 45 of iron and 6. 0 g of proteins (Weight loss program). The values were founded on a caloric diet of 2000 calories. It is rich in vitamin C. Ball park fat free beef franks expiry date is 22nd of May 2010. AGHE values for a single serve is higher than what has been provided on the food label. AGHE recommends that a sample serve for cooked meat should be between 65g and 100g. Core food groups Meat belongs in the fifth food groups alongside chicken, lean mince, fish, lentils, eggs and peas. Adults are encouraged to eat between one to two serves of meat per day. Percentage macronutrients I g of fat is equivalent to 38 kJ, 1g of protein is equivalent to 17 kJ where as I g of carbohydrates is equivalent 17 kJ (Soccer performance). 1 calorie is equivalent to 4. 184 kJ. Therefore, 45 calories ? 4. 184 is equivalent to 188. 28 kJ of energy (Weight loss program). 5g of carbohydrates /100 = 0. 05 ? 100 = 5% carbohydrates 6g of protein / 100 = 0. 06 ? 100 = 6 % proteins Iron 4% The food product conforms to AGHE food guidelines. This is because the daily requirement for protein from meat is 2% and iron 4%. Major nutrients The major nutrients found in meat are protein and iron. Protein is important because it aids in repairing and building worn out tissues, it is a source of energy, it maintains the skin, nails and hair and it is important in the overall body functions like muscle contraction, and nutrient transport. Nearly 45 percent of the human body is made up of proteins (Soccerperformance. org). Iron is important in the production of myoglobin and hemoglobin which transport oxygen in muscles and blood. Iron is also important in that it assists the white blood cells produce element essential in combating bacteria. It also aids in the synthesis of many critical neurotransmitters. Bibliography AGHE , Enjoy A Variety Of Foods Every Day, Accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://www. health. gov. au/internet/main/publishing. nsf/Content/E384CFA588B74377CA256F190004059B/$File/fd-cons. pdf Jewel Whole Grain bread. Accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://www. livestrong. com/thedailyplate/nutrition-calories/food/jewel/whole-grain-bread/ Michaels Jillian, ‘calories in wild harvest organic yogurt’ accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://www. myfitnesspal. com/food/calories/wild-harvest-organic-low-fat-vanilla-yogurt-848062 New York times (2010) , ‘Fiber’ accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://health. nytimes. com/health/guides/nutrition/fiber/overview. html Peertrainer. com , ‘Calories in fresh lemons’ accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://www. peertrainer. com/DFcaloriecounterB. aspx? id=2117 Pharmics Inc, ‘Functions of vitamins and minerals’ accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://www. pharmics. com/welcome. htm Soccerperformance. org, ‘Nutrition: Energy Expenditure’ accessed on 20/05/2010 from http://www. soccerperformance. org/specialtopics/energyexpendit

Best Buy Analysis

Best Buy Context Analysis Best Buy Co. , Inc. is a specialty retailer of consumer electronics in the United States, accounting for 19% of the market. It also operates in Mexico, Canada, China, Turkey and the United Kingdom. The company's subsidiaries include Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales, and in Canada operates under both the Best Buy and Future Shop label (Dual Branding). Together these operate more than 1,150 stores in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico, and Turkey.In addition, the company has rolled out over 100 Best Buy Express Automated Retail stores or â€Å"ZoomShops†, operated by Zoom Systems, in airports and malls around the U. S. The company's corporate headquarters are located in Richfield, Minnesota. Best Buy was named â€Å"Company of the Year† by Forbes magazine in 2004, â€Å"Specialty Retailer of the Decade† by Discount Store News in 2001, ranked in the Top 10 of â€Å"America's Most Generous Corporations† by Forbes magazine in 2005, and made Fortune magazine's List of Most Admired Companies in 2006.On March 9, 2009, Best Buy became the primary electronics retail store (online and bricks and mortar) in the eastern United States, after smaller rival Circuit City went out of business. Fry's Electronics remains a major competitor in the western United States. Many locations feature in-store pickup, which can be arranged through the company's website. Climate Factors Political * Best Buy is engaged in various activities to promote the promotion of candidates and political organizations. The company complies with all the laws related to the political contributions and strives to contribute to the  parties that are interested in the well being of their industry (Best Buy, 2009). Economic * The economic slowdown has no doubt affected the business operations of Bust Buy Co. and they are facing consumer related challenges at every point in the market. * Due to these economic conditions, i n 2008, Best Buy Co. asked its employee’s to separate from the company on voluntary basis (ecoustics, 2008).This strategy allowed the company to settle down in the market to some extent. * Corporate partnership with CPW has helped the company to perform better in the adverse conditions of the economy and markets Social * Best Buy is engaged in effective social and community related initiatives. * It has developed Children’s Foundation that aims to support the local communities via its grant making programs. * It took an initiative to give power to teens to improve their relationship and educational status at school and for them to engage in their communities. The company gives grants and store donations to promote education. * Has partnered up with foundations like Admission Possible, AFI Screen Nation, America Scores, American Red Cross Society, Ashoka’s Youth Venture, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, among others. Technological * The company is highly equipped with the latest gadgets and the technology it requires to facilitate its customer base. * They are also using technologies like click stream on the websites to keep the anonymous track of their visitor’s preferences and likes.This technology helps them to develop a better, more secure shopping experience and helps Best Buy to understand how visitors use their website. Environmental * Best Buy launched a program called Greener together to increase the energy efficiency in its products and to reduce the level of waste  by using recyclable packaging and disposing system. * The company also offers free recycling of gadgets large and small. Bust Buy S. W. O. T. Analysis Strength * Consumers have a positive view of Best Buy as opposed to competitors * Strong market presence and wide consumer base provides competitive dvantage. * Loyalty programs – â€Å"Reward Zone† * Acquisitions like Future Shops, Geek Squad, Napster, and Jiangsu Five Star * Knowledgeable Staff W eaknesses * Private Brand recalls * Constrained credit availability Opportunities * Expanding presence in China, Mexico, Europe, Canada, UK, and Turkey. * Private brand potential * Growing online sales * Circuit City’s demise has freed up some of the market * Dual branding in Canada and China Threats * Economic slowdown * Intense competition * Political issues between U. S. and China * Quality issues with Chinese exporters.

New horizons in standardized work techniques for manufacturing and business process improvement Essay

This document analysis different business improvements techniques stating the benefits and limitations of the improvement techniques and going further to reviewing and reflect on the social, commercial and economical factors that affect these business improvement techniques. Investigation on the engineering and manufacturing processes and systems by explaining in details one type of the system known as the lean or Sigma manufacturing system in depth is critically evaluated based on benefits to business: productivity, quality and cost. In today’s very competitive market environment, there is a dire need for enterprises to ensure continual improvement in all their operations. Manufacturing companies always continue to face increasing pressure to improve the quality of their products, to increase productivity and to reduce costs with the available scarce resources. Service firms need to reduce their response time so as to eliminate errors and ensure customer satisfaction. Deployment of suitable techniques to ensure continued improvement thus proves to be a necessity. Through these techniques process capability need to be enhanced which will do away with any kind of defects? Mechanical Engineering is a field of engineering that deals with the application of engineering principles, physics and material science to analysis, designing , in manufacturing and in mechanical systems. Manufacturing Engineering on the other hand is still field of engineering that deals with various manufacturing processes and practices, research and development of the manufacturing systems, machines, equipment and tools and outline of the manufacturing processes being a core part and parcel of this field. BITs (Business Improvement Techniques)                  Business improvement techniques or process improvements also known as business process reengineering entails improving the quality, productivity and the response time of a business process by doing away with activities that add no value and also doing away with unnecessary business costs. An improvement technique(s) thus brings about overall effectiveness in the business operations and processes through optimization of the organization`s underlying processes and activities so as to achieve more and more efficient results. Business Improvement Techniques are very important and beneficial for the different types and sizes of companies in each and every sector so as to remain competitive and relevant in today’s challenging business environment. Implementation of Business Improvement Techniques usually requires a dynamic culture change throughout the whole organization. The organizations that have been in a position to successfully implement a philosophy of continuous improvement over the time have had benefits of reduced costs of operations reduced inventory costs, increased sales and profitability, improved team work and better customer service level and thus leading to customer satisfaction. These Business Improvement Techniques can apply to the organization as a whole in any particular sector of the economy starting from service providers, to government departments to the health care sector then to construction, agriculture and also from manufacturing. The techniques are also very pivotal in the development of a vision, goals, objectives and a strategy towards yielding extraordinary gains in the business. Through these Techniques proper mapping and identification of key processes is done and the information is systems are designed to ensure that information flows within the whole organization in the right order and manner. Another benefit of these techniques is that through them defective points are noted or identified and areas or points of â€Å"waste† are also identified. Recommendations in terms of ways and methods of introducing business those which will eliminate waste and provide bottom line benefits to the business are formulated. Despite the fact that Business Improvement Techniques have numerous bottom line benefits the techniques still have some limitations. The process of Business Improvement Technique is quite engaging and tiresome it surely requires diligence, dedication and concentrated efforts for it to bear fruits or yield the expected results. The process is also usually costly to implement despite having very many benefits it requires resources in terms of skilled and experienced manpower, hiring of experts and also machinery, tools and equipments especially for a manufacturing organization so as to effect the recommended changes. Thorough and detailed analysis of any available information and gathering of data may in a way strain the organization. In-depth training of workers and staff, regular monitoring and evaluation thorough planning, scheduling and organizing are also highly inevitable if the improvement technique is to succeed. It also takes time for the benefits of implementing the improvement technique to be realized at times even years after the start of the implementation process. Resistance to changes by some people in the organization is also an expected limitation in an endeavor to improve the business, some factions in the organization may feel threatened and insecure with the changes brought about by the techniques in terms of changes to processes and systems in the organization. At times workers and even some customers tend to oppose changes to the existing processes and systems. Difficulties can also be experienced before the new established or streamlined processes and systems can become ful ly operational and functional. The Sigma Six                  Sigma Six is a powerful management philosophy business improvement technique developed by Motorola that champions setting of very high objectives, collection of data and its analysis to give out results to a really high degree so as to reduce defects in the products and services offered by the organization. The word â€Å"Sigma† originates from a Greek letter sigma which is usually used to denote variation from a certain set standard. The Six Sigma philosophy is based on the fact that if you take consideration of the many number of defects through measuring there is in a process then it becomes easier to figure out how to eliminate the defects systematically and get near to perfection as much as possible. For Six sigma to be achieved by any organization or company it cannot be producing more than 3.4 defects per one million opportunities in which case an opportunity is taken to mean a chance for nonconformance. Sigma Six has six processes namely Six Sigma DMAIC and Six Sigma DMADV, each term deduced from the major steps in the process. Six Sigma DMAIC is a process that deals with defining, measuring, analyzing, improving, and controlling of existing processes that fall below the Six Sigma standard or specification. Six Sigma DMADV deals with defining, measuring and analyzing designs and also verification of new processes and even products that are striving to achieve the Six Sigma quality. All Six Sigma processes are implemented by Six Sigma Green Belts or Six Sigma Black Belts, which are then overseen by a Six Sigma Master Black Belts. Six Sigma proponents argue that it has mega benefits to the company. These benefits include an up to 50% process cost decrease, cycle-time improvement, a less waste of materials and company`s resources, a better understanding of customer needs and requirements, multiplied customer satisfaction, and also more reliable products and services that can be trusted . Six Sigma can be a really costly improvement technique to implement and can even take several years before the company begins to see its benefits or bottom-line results. Some of the Companies that have practiced and still practice Six Sigma are, General Electric, Texas Instruments, Scientific-Atlanta, Allied Signal and many others. Cases showing application of Six Sigma Technique in the Industry                  The samples below shows some Six Sigma projects evidencing the improvements and changes to processes and systems that were ongoing some of which were very problematic and people would wonder whether those problems could have actually been saved at all at all. It is the Six Sigma technique or approach that leads to these companies identifying their problems and thus be in a position to seek solutions to them many of these projects that were tackled by Six Sigma teams would not have been tackled or addressed at all. Some of these sample cases are: Sample Case 1: CANCEL THAT NEW PLANT                  The case involved a highly successful new pain-killer drug, a pharmaceutical company launched plans to set up a $200 million production facility so as to double its capacity. As the effort of setting it up were starting some people from the company who were new participants in the company’s Six Sigma effort resolved to investigate some of the short-term steps that can boost production in the existing plant. As they collected data, the group or participants first realized that it was only about 40 percent of the drug that was being packaged was usable or could be used. Looking further, they discovered that the sealing method that was being used for the drug vials was very inconsistent that some of them would not be completely closed, while at the same time others were too long to fit in the box. The team thus used a number of testing and refining of the Sealing process by use of different design experiments methods and finally determined the very best combination of inputs or factors that is the time, temperature, distance and so on that could be used to ensure a good seal. Effecting these changes and an addition of few $50 parts to regulate and change the sealing equipment was done and there was no need of establishing the new plant. Sample Case 2: REPAIRING REPAIRS                  A major organization dealing with appliances repair realized the need to improve its capacity to return items to the customers in accordance to when the goods were promised to be returned. Many are the times that repairs were late and the customers became disappointed when they would call in or drop by the organization premises to pick up their appliances or computer. A multi-level DMAIC team decided to narrow their scope to two repair locations and to diligently and carefully analyze all the causes leading to late repairs. The first discovery is that the time taken to repair one product was only part of the problem and that the time taken to ship appliances back and forth from repair shop to the customer site also was the main and big contributor to delays or missed dates. Based on the findings together with the cost/benefit analysis the team in assistance with other colleagues engaged in the two pilot facilities or projects implemented a few changes so as to streamline the process and increase the number of appliances being returned to customers when promised. Lean Sigma on Manufacturing Systems and its Importance in the Production system                  The value of Lean Manufacturing System is best comprehended when at the particular time that its impact of change on economics is properly understood. This manufacturing engineering philosophy is based on designing a manufacturing process or system that very well blends together the essentials of minimizing cost and maximizing profit. The main fundamentals with these systems are Labor, Materials and Machines or Equipment referred to as 3Ms of manufacturing. A very well balanced 3M results in: Maximum utilization of both skilled and unskilled labor; optimal use of the plant size; Smooth traffic movement of materials, labor and automotives. It can also lead to minimum grand total manufacturing costs of the products being produced; Reduce investment; reducing labor requirement and utilization of more productive equipment. Disposition of less productive or unproductive equipments; Flexibility to keeping in pace with market and customer changes and also Increa se Return on Net Asset are other results of use the 3M fundamentals. Three steps involved in the accomplishment of the ultimate manufacturing engineering lean philosophy namely: The first step is to design a simple manufacturing system; one commences the process of system design as simple as possible with just a low volume through the system. The second step is the realization that there is always a room for improvements and thus refining the first step as much as possible. The third step is to continuously work on and improve the lean manufacturing system design concept with addition of the appropriate insertion of and balance of automations, conveyors and in necessary cases the buffer stocks. Additional concepts can be generated that could lead to satisfaction of product and the technical marketing requirements of the products. Through a thorough re-examination of intra- and inter- technologies, through past production process errors and the lessons learned. The competitive analysis of techno-communication may be applicable and finally selection of the proper manufacturing system concepts to be adopted for further considerations or developments should be based upon a thorough analysis performed or done in accordance with the established selection criteria. Consideration of two manufacturing systems that when they are combined give rise to Lean Manufacturing system that is the Flow Manufacturing System and Agile Manufacturing System. Designing a Simple Manufacturing System through flow manufacturing is a time-based process that joins together a smooth production system without any disruption. Rapidly and smoothly flowing materials from raw materials to finished goods through systematic balancing of the laborers or operators, the machine and equipment to customer demands or requirements. The objective of Flow Manufacturing is to provide the ultimate response and also produce the customer requirement, benefits of this goal being to decrease the Total Product Cycle Time, increased productivity and also increased the per capital equipment utilization. In this system of Flow Manufacturing, the performance and output is measured by the Total Product Cycle Time also referred to as the Critical Path. Total Product Cycle Time is the longest lead time path right away from raw materials to finished goods it is the quickest possible response to a customer order with finished products. Lead Time consideration and analysis is derived from the Critical Path which helps us to outline opportunities so as to reduce or eliminate Non-Value-Adding activities and in the process shortening the Total Cycle Product Time. When reducing the variations in the rate of flow in the manufacturing system, the lead time will be reduced. These variations can be reduced through random downtimes, higher uptime, through quick changeover, lower downtime and also through improved quality through error proofs, self checks, and equipment product centered cellular layouts. Agile Manufacturing is quite a profitable manufacturing system that is closely inter-twined to the concept of Flow Manufacturing. It goes further and builds on the Flow Manufacturing concept to further reduce the lead time, optimize asset utilization or use and build to customer demand by focusing on being able to aptly respond to customer requests and demands. It has an assumption that the customer requirement or specifications and volumes which is based on continuous changes. Program lead time is the form of measurement of Agile Manufacturing performance. The main goal is to have a system that has a smooth flow of material while at the same time maximizing the value added activities of the operator. There are other situations in the system design process that requires special consideration such as situations include: Manufacturing Process, Manufacturing System, Value Added (VA) activities and the Non Value Added (NVA) activities. The manufacturing process entails the equipments used to create, to alter, to assemble, to measure and tests the product with the objective of meeting a pre-determined product requirement. This equipment includes machines, tools, fixtures, and gauges such as drills, grinders and test stands. The manufacturing system involves the combination of labor and manufacturing process which are then linked together with materials handling both manual or automated so as to move the material or product from one manufacturing point to the next process and to the next until it is processed into a finished product. VA or Value Added is any activity that is performed to a product as it moves along the production process that the customer perceived as actually addition of value to the product. The NVA (Non Valuable Activities) are all the activities that are associated with the production process that happen not to be adding any value to the product and thus not necessary to be performed but it is st ill nonetheless performed at the current moment awaiting the emergence or arousal of awareness on availability of better methods to replace it. In Lean Manufacturing however the manufacturing cost does not necessarily have a steep drop as the volume requirements or demands of customer’s changes. This is because of the product flexibility and also equipment flexibility that can be very well incorporated into the Lean Manufacturing System. This system is mostly characterized with: investment which are done as required, more flexible equipment, more adaptability to uncertain markets in terms of volumes and products and also characterized with smaller capacity increments and more product(s) flexibility. Lean manufacturing system design needs to be continuously improved so as to aptly respond to the customer requirements and to ensure this is by having flexibility of equipment and have the capability to match it with the product flexibility. Having uncertain customer requirements makes it important to examine the manufacturing costs over a range of volumes also been very keen not to produce beyond the requirements. This system is characterized with: investments committed upfront which is usually quite high; more rigid and complicated equipment and larger capacity increments with high customer volume demands or requirements for long periods Lean Manufacturing System has potential for greater profitability which highly depends on utilization of its resources that is the 3Ms in terms of the materials moving the Value Activities or VA, man or labor working by adding value to the product, machine running in a manner that is more productive. Lean Manufacturing System can be successfully adopted in new manufacturing system or environment, in an existing manufacturing system requiring capitalization, new equipments or even in product relocation. In conclusion given the increasing competitiveness in the market place it would be suicidal for a business to ignore continual improvement in its systems and operations. Manufacturing companies specifically will always continue to face increasing pressure to improve the quality of their products, to increase productivity and to reduce costs with the available scarce resources. Use of the right Business Improvement Techniques to ensure continued improvement of the business to as to keep afloat of competition and deal with changes in its environment. From this paper it is clear that Business Improvement Techniques dramatically decreases the waste chain in the business operations and also reduces the Inventory and floor space requirements. Creation of more robust production processes and systems and also appropriate material delivery systems are established and there is improved layouts for more flexibility in business as a result of the Business Improvement Techniques and thus should b e a priority for any business to consider embracing. References Marcos, M. (2012). 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